Claim: Air pollution is shortening the human life span

Question

According to state of global air, "Exposure to Air Pollution Reduces Life Expectancy. Current levels of air pollution have reduced life expectancy by 1 year and 8 months on average worldwide." So is air pollution true causing a shortened life span or are other lifestyle factors causing it as well?

Answer 1

Yes, this is accurate. Air pollution itself does shorten life expectancy according to multiple sources which I have linked below. On an individual-to-individual basis, there can definitely be other factors that can reduce or increase life expectancy, but studies do show that air pollution on its own contributes to shortened life expectancy.

Sources:

https://aqli.epic.uchicago.edu/news/most-of-the-world-breathes-unsafe-air-taking-more-than-2-years-off-global-life-expectancy/

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/14/air-pollution-takes-2-years-off-your-life-more-than-smoking-or-alcohol.html

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/air-pollution-cuts-life-expectancy-by-more-than-two-years-study-2022-06-14/

Comments

I appreciate how you added more than one source.

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I like how you gave the answer more context instead of just providing a yes or no, the multiple sources really helped and its clear you knew what you were talking about.

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You did a wonderful job including multiple sources while acknowledging other factors causing shortening of life expectancies.

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You answered this question well, but I would like to know how air pollution directly affects human health, and what other health problems it can be comparable to.

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The use of more than one source makes the argument much better and shows a reader that there was research done. It is also quick and direct, getting right to the point.

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I like the use of multiple articles to back up your fact-checking; however, I would like to see more quotes from the actual articles you provided.

Answer 2

Air pollution is a continuous problem that the earth is facing, and the end of this problem isn't looking promising. With the production of fossil fuels, transportation, and lots of other things advancing everyday air pollution is only going to become a worse and more prevalent problem. The leading causes of air pollution are the burning of fossil fuels, industrial emissions, and transportation. These are things that people on earth are doing everyday, and will only be continuing to do as the world continues to develop and grow. An article I found from State of Global Air states, "Current levels of air pollution have reduced life expectancy by 1 year and 8 months on average worldwide." Therefore, it is proven to be true from data and studies that air pollution is shortening the human life span. 

Source: https://www.stateofglobalair.org/health/life-expectancy#:~:text=Learn%20More-,SIGNIFICANT%20IMPACTS,8%20months%20on%20average%20worldwide.   

Comments

Nice work providing a clear and thorough explanation. Going forward, dig deeper and find a source that hasn't been used within the claim (re: stateofglobalair.org was used for the claim).

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I really liked your use of quotes in your fact check, as well as your writing style. The hyperlink is a nice touch as well.

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This is a good explanation that goes into depth on the problem/answer. The quote is well-placed and builds the argument as well. Overall it is a good fact check that thoroughly answers the question.

Answer 3

According to an article by CNBC, air pollution as a result of burning of fossil fuels takes an average of 2.2 years off of global human life expectancy. This is 3 times more than the effect of alcohol on lifespan, and firsthand cigarette smoke, which takes an average of 1.9 years of life. The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) states that air pollution takes a collective 17 billion years of life. The AQLI found that if the world were to reduce air pollution to meet international health guidelines, the average global life expectancy would increase from about 72 to 74.2 years.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/14/air-pollution-takes-2-years-off-your-life-more-than-smoking-or-alcohol.html

Comments

How would you rate the claim? True, given your explanation?

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It is informative that you included the exact amount of years that air pollution could take off your life.

Answer 4

According to an article, air pollution takes off roughly two years of our global average life expectancy. To provide perspective, this is about the same damage as smoking, and is six times higher than the average for HIVS/AIDS, three times higher than alcohol abuse, and eighty-nine times higher than conflict/terrorism. Some of the damages of air pollution include, “… Exposure to PM2.5 pollution is linked to asthma and respiratory disease, heart problems, high blood pressure, cancer, central nervous system disorders like epilepsy and autism, and mental illness”. 

https://www.ehn.org/air-pollution-causes-earlier-death-2657503787.html

Comments

Hello, I thought it was great the way you were able to put this claim into perspective. The quote is helpful, as well.

Answer 5

This claim is accurate.

According to www.stateofglobalair.org, Earth's current levels of air pollution reduce life expectancy by 1 year and 8 months on average. This may not seem like a lot, but it is just shortly behind tobacco, smoking, and diet. 

SOURCE: https://www.stateofglobalair.org/health/life-expectancy#:~:text=Learn%20More-,SIGNIFICANT%20IMPACTS,8%20months%20on%20average%20worldwide.

Comments

Going forward, it's best to dig deeper and find a source that hasn't been used within the claim (re: stateofglobalair.org was used for the claim).

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While your fact-check is correct, it would be beneficial to give more evidence as to why the claim is accurate. Consider using more sources and writing a detailed explanation as to why each source proves the claim is accurate.

Answer 6

This is true! The University of Chicago's Air Quality Life Index notes that air pollution takes more than two years off of the average time a person lives, "The AQLI finds that particulate air pollution takes 2.2 years off global average life expectancy, or a combined 17 billion life-years, relative to a world that met the WHO guideline (5 µg/m3)."

Source: https://aqli.epic.uchicago.edu/news/most-of-the-world-breathes-unsafe-air-taking-more-than-2-years-off-global-life-expectancy/. 

Answer 7

This information is true. The air pollution that we have been exposed to has shortened human lifespan. According to this article from State of Gloabl Air, "Many factors can lead to poor health and can reduce life expectancy; air pollution is one of them. Currently, air pollution is the 4th leading cause of death globally, accounting for nearly 7 million deaths."

Although many factors contribute to shortenning our life expectancy, air pollution is a direct contribution on a global scale who's effects have already been recorded and only projected to rise.

https://www.stateofglobalair.org/health/life-expectancy

Comments

Going forward, it's best to dig deeper and find a source that hasn't been used within the claim (re: stateofglobalair.org was used for the claim).

Answer 8

This is entirely accurate.

According to CNBC, "air pollution, which is primarily the result of burning fossil fuels, takes 2.2 years off the average  global life expectancy, according to a new report out Tuesday from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)."

Reducing air pollution in generation will increase the global average life expectancy from 72 to 74.2 years. Research to show the impact of bullion on human life expectancy is based on causation, not correlation. Air pollution is dangerous, especially because it is impossible to avoid.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/14/air-pollution-takes-2-years-off-your-life-more-than-smoking-or-alcohol.html

Comments

I appreciate your use of quotes in your response as well as providing information on the extension of human life if global pollution decreases.

Answer 9

According to an article by Reuters, "Chronic air pollution cuts average global life expectancy by more than two years per person." 

Around 97% of the population in the world lives in areas where air pollution exceeds normal levels. 

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/air-pollution-cuts-life-expectancy-by-more-than-two-years-study-2022-06-14/

Answer 10

This statement is very true, as air pollution is extremely dangerous to a persons health. 

"Air pollution, which is primarily the result of burning fossil fuels, takes 2.2 years off the average global life expectancy, according to a new report out Tuesday from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)."

-https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/14/air-pollution-takes-2-years-off-your-life-more-than-smoking-or-alcohol.html